Ptarmigan

True
mountain-dwellers, you rarely see these pigeon-sized birds below
2000m. Their name comes from the Gaelic tarmachan,
which means ‘croaker’ – and it’s often their call that gives
away their presence. They are masters of disguise, their lichen-grey
plumage matching the boulder fields where they make their homes in
summer, gradually changing to the mottled white of the winter
snowfields.

They
are shyer of the golden eagle, their most feared predator, than they
are of people, relying on their camouflage to keep them safe. If you
manage to get close enough you will see that ptarmigans’ feet are
swathed in thick feathers, like miniature snowshoes. These protect
them from the constant cold of the winter snow holes where they
roost.

The
adults feed on the shoots of plants like heather and blaeberry, which
often peep through the snow even in the depths of winter. But the
chicks are fed on insects, and a cold, wet spring can seriously
affect their chances of survival.

The
mountains of the National Park are probably their most southern
outpost in the UK, and although a handful of other birds can been
seen this high in the mountains, ptarmigan are the only species to
make a permanent home here.